Switching this week to my latest release, Dancer of the Nile, which takes us back to Ancient Egypt again. The story blurb is below the photo. This is from the beginning of the story, as Nima the Dancer tries to help another prisoner who has been denied water.
“Here,” she whispered, holding the mug out to him. “Drink quickly.”
When he raised his head, she recoiled from the intensity in his eyes. However defeated he may appear, this man isn’t giving up. Unsmiling, the warrior glanced at her bound wrists then at her face, saying nothing.
Why doesn’t he trust me, can’t he see I’m a prisoner here, too? Nima placed the mug against his swollen, split lips and tipped it up. Swallowing in greedy gulps, he kept his eyes focused on her face.
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Egypt, 1500 BCE
Nima’s beauty and skill as a dancer leads an infatuated enemy to kidnap her after destroying an Egyptian border town. However, she’s not the only hostage in the enemy camp: Kamin, an Egyptian soldier on a secret mission for Pharaoh, has been taken as well. Working together to escape, the two of them embark on a desperate quest across the desert to carry word of the enemy’s invasion plans to Pharaoh’s people.
As they flee for their lives, these two strangers thrown together by misfortune have to trust in each other to survive. Nima suspects Kamin is more than the simple soldier he seems, but she finds it hard to resist the effect he has on her heart. Kamin has a duty to his Pharaoh to see his mission completed, but this clever and courageous dancer is claiming more of his loyalty and love by the moment. Kamin starts to worry, if it comes to a choice between saving Egypt or saving Nima’s life…what will he do?
Aided by the Egyptian god Horus and the Snake Goddess Renenutet, beset by the enemy’s black magic, can Nima and Kamin evade the enemy and reach the safety of the Nile in time to foil the planned attack?
Can there ever be a happy future together for the humble dancer and the brave Egyptian soldier who is so much more than he seems?
I’m ecstatic to say DANCER OF THE NILE hit the Amazon Best Seller list the first day, in the Romance=>Ancient World category. Thank you to everyone who purchased the book, giving it such a terrific head start, and I hope you’ll enjoy the story!
DANCER OF THE NILE is AVAILABLE on Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks iTunes
Nice 8. The scenes speaks of her kindness and generosity.
I think he will learn to trust her. Great imagery.
Powerful eight. Love her inner thoughts . You’ve captured me again. Thanks.
I love how smoothly you were able to show the different way each character reacted to their situation. Very nicely done!
I love the characterization. Great job!
oh awesome way to get my attention. This excerpt has so much fire and promise in it!
She’s going to win his trust…I think.
I’m so happy you’ve had success with this! You really deserve it. Beautifully written eight.
Great 8, Veronica! I grabbed my copy and can’t wait to dive in to the full story. Well done!
Strong excerpt in a lot of ways! Definitely intriguing. Yeah, it’s great that the book is starting off so well. We need more books set way back in ancient times, with accurate research like you’ve done 😀
Thank you very much, I’m endlessly reading new-to-me research books on ancient Egypt, although of course I do take historical liberties here and there in order to write paranormal!
I hope they’re able to form a friendship and see past their differences to try to find a way out of their situation.
There’s so much to pull me in. It’s hard when you want to help someone and they don’t trust you. Well done, Veronica.
This sounds so cool, Veronica! I love how you incorporate Egyptian mythology into your stories. 🙂
Oh, I think he’ll learn to trust her. Nice eight!
love her inner thoughts and his lack of trust
There’s such an intimacy when he finally drinks. You write so beautifully, Veronica.
I really don’t NEED another book on my iPad, but I couldn’t resist.
Oh thank you very much! I hope you’ll enjoy the story…
Thank you for stopping by, everyone! And for all the encouraging remarks…I thought it would be interesting to start the novel with both characters being prisoners of the Hyksos and see what they each thought of the other and the situation.
Lovely characterization and scene setting. She comes across as very kind while he has the courage of the warrior – marvelous and in just 8 sentences!
Fabulous 8, Veronica! There’s so much about each of the characters in that 8. And I’m not surprised the book hit the best seller list, it sounds fantastic!
You manage to say a lot with few words. We learn so much about both of them and with only one sentence of dialogue. Great job
Uh oh. You’ve done it again. Another book I have to read.
I like how sympathetic she is. Nice job!
Love the intensity here!
Trust is probably pretty hard from his point of view–she could be betraying him somehow, while he’s pretty much helpless. He’ll have to get over it if he wants to survive!
He makes me curious… I can imagine he’s a pretty intense person, and keeping somebody like that prisoner never ends well! A great excerpt, as always 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Great interaction showing us his suspicion and her need to help him. Big congrats on making the Amazon best seller list!!
I really like the way you showed his inner power, the intensity in his eyes speaks of strength. Good 8
Oh, man, that gave me chills and I’m not even the one holding the cup. Great snippet, Veronica. 🙂
Nima will need to be patient trust takes time to earn.
Excellent visual. I agree, trust takes time to earn. Definitely want more! Great 8! 😀
Wary of each other, I get his apprehension. Could be poison for all he knows. You conveyed a lot about both characters in a snippet. Excellent 8. Congrats on your book release too!
History Sleuth’s Milk Carton Murders
You can tell a lot about both characters in this short excerpt. Wonderful description! I’m excited to read more, Veronica! 🙂
Great 8. Depicts her kindness and his hesitation and caution completely. Well done. 🙂
Love the anticipation built by this snippet; you just know we’re gonna get to know this stranger!! 😉 Great 8!
Great characterisation there.